1971 Ducati 350cc Desmo Racer

Description

1971 Ducati 350cc Desmo Racer

The 350 Sport Corsa (or SC) was different mechanically from the production street sport bikes. The engine included sand-cast crankcases with either 250 or 350 SC and an engine number stamped on the left crankcase near the cylinder. It was designed to accommodate the double cradle frame. The cylinder head was sand-cast 350 F3 type, with shorter camshafts than the Mach 1. There was also a close-ratio, 5-speed gearbox that was unique to the SC. Only a half a dozen 350s were built during 1965.
 The Sport Corsa Desmo (or SCD) although obviously related, was more than a Desmo version of the SC. One can assume that each was indeed bespoke, certainly hand assembled one by one and not necessarily in the Ducati factory itself. It is extremely difficult to establish a specification for the series. Even the frames differed from bike to bike – this example has a special twin down tube frame, not the single down tube, which was more common. It has the usual Marzocchi 35mm forks. The 350 Desmo motor is just over square with a 76mm bore and 75mm stroke (as the street motor) and pumps out a quoted 41hp at 10,500 rpm.

These bikes were very expensive with probably less than a dozen made. While the 350 Sport Corsa Desmo may have had little or no advantage over a cheaper and lighter modified production street bike on the track, today it scores massively as a classic work of art for it is rare in the extreme, and handsome to boot. This “privateer racer” was fully and professionally restored in Italy to its original specifications except for the fairing, which remains in original condition. With Fontana brakes, straight cut gears and a rare dry clutch this is one of the finest period racers to come from the 1960’s. Mario Sassi’s shop in Rimini, Italy is an established restorer who undertook the task several years ago for a California collector who has kept it “ready to run” for the past few years.

The motorbike offered

Having been on static display in the MotoTalbott Museum in Carmel, California for some time, this beautifully presented 1971 Ducati 350cc Desmo Racer has been re-commissioned to ready it for sale, but further fettling may be necessary before returning it to regular use.